Ideology or the Economy? Iranians Head to the Polls

Friday, June 12, 2009

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An Iranian woman casts her vote at a polling station in Iran. (Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images))

It’s election day in Iran. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is facing a tough challenge from Mir Hossein Mousavi, a moderate former prime minister. Outsiders may see this as an ideological choice for Iranians, but in fact there are basic pocketbook issues at stake. The economy is in serious trouble, with unemployment at 17 percent and inflation over 23 percent, according to Iran’s Central Bank. Joining The Takeaway to take a look at the election are Afshin Molavi, a Senior Fellow at the New America Foundation, and author of “Soul of Iran: A Nation’s Journey to Freedom,” and Radman Rabii, a Mousavi supporter.

"These elections have exposed serious rifts within the ruling leadership, but they've also excited the public like no other election before."
— Afshin Molavi, senior fellow at the New America Foundation, on Iranian elections

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